Community Responses and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic 37 Reclaiming their space For Eddie, Mina, and Ka Linda, if there is any redeeming factor in the quarantine period, it is the opportunity to become closer to one another. Now, they have tested their collective capacities to perform to the best of their governance skills. And it pushed them further to self-discovery, of what higher levels they can reach and achieve as a peoples’ organization. In the case of ASAMBA, the pandemic, although resulting in a harsh atmosphere and stressful circumstances, has surfaced the underestimated capacities of grassroots communities who will endeavor selflessly in addressing human needs because of their now-ingrained outlook based on solidarity, cooperation, and sharing of resources. References ASAMBA (Alyansa ng mga Samahan sa Sito Mendez, Baesa Homeowners Association, Inc.). Forthcoming. (B)aklasan: Life Histories by ASAMBA. Quezon City: Program on Alternative Development, UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies. Asiddao-Santos, Flora. 2020. “The Urban Poor Struggle for On-Site Development: ASAMBA Experience.” In Rethinking Cross-border Regionalism: Proceedings of the Conference on Alternatives in Southeast Asia, 81–82. Quezon City: UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies. Badilla, Nelson. 1997. “Mathay Hit for Bloody Demolition.” Manila Times, August 13, 1997. Cueto, Donna. 1997. “Mendez Guards ‘Ready to Shoot’ Squatters.” Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 1997. Manila Times. 1997. “Mendez Squatters Finally Go Back Home, or Part of It.” August 16, 1997. Padua, Bong. 1997. “QC Evicted Squatters’ Leader Shot to Death.” People’s Journal, July 19, 1997. QC (Quezon City) Local Government. n.d.a. “Belmonte: P1.2-B Financial Aid Given to Almost 600K Residents Under ‘Kalingang QC’ Program.” Accessed August 1, 2020. https://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/COVID-updates/ item/1112-belmonte-p1-2-b-financial-aid-given-to-almost-600k-residentsunder-kalingang-qc-program. ———. n.d.b. “COVID-19 Cases as of August 01, 2020.” Accessed August 1, 2020. https://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/COVID-updates/item/1137-COVID-19cases-as-of-august-01-2020. Republic of the Philippines. 1992. “Republic Act No. 7279.” Official Gazette, March 24, 1992. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1992/03/24/republic-act-no-7279/.